Public Invited to Listen to
TAMIU Organist Candidates

Take a break during the day and listen to lunchtime mini-concerts at the Texas A&M International University Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall Monday, June 24; Wednesday, June 26; and Friday, June 28. All recitals start at noon.

Admission is free and open to the pubic.

Audiences will have the opportunity to hear three finalists for the position of University organist/collaborative pianist on the Sharkey Corrigan Organ.

“We have been without a person to perform regularly on this instrument for quite some time,” said Brendan Townsend, director of Music Programs at TAMIU, “It has always been the intention since we received this wonderful gift to have someone on the faculty to perform, demonstrate, and build an organ program which would be unique in South Texas.”

He added that the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of Fine and Performing Arts music area has grown, with a particular increase in the keyboard area.

“We have grown beyond the point where the accompanying of our students could be handled internally,” said Townsend, “This split position will service the needs of our current students as well as build the organ program.”

The University received a donation in this past year which allowed other funds to be re-allocated, and TAMIU President Dr. Ray Keck saw this as an opportunity to both serve the needs of the students in music, and, build the organ program, Townsend said.

“This organ is such a lasting and important gift to the community that it is important that we show it off, and use it for building a program unavailable elsewhere in South Texas,” said Dr. Keck.

Each of the candidates will perform three distinct works, including one work by Bach, in a lecture-recital format where they will introduce the music and the Organ, often referred to as the rich “King of Instruments.”

All will also accompany Townsend in a performance of part of a Beethoven Sonata for Piano and Cello to demonstrate their piano accompaniment skills.

The Sharkey Corrigan Organ is a gift of the E. H. Corrigan Foundation, led by longtime Laredo businessman and passionate supporter of the arts E. H. Corrigan. It was inaugurated in July 2006.